JotCast | Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 21, 2019

Notre Dame Football Live Chat Nov. 21, 2019

View Full Chat Next Page

This chat is available to members only. Please log in to participate.

Eric Hansen

3:03

OK, I've got to cut it off here. Wish I had more time. Some great questions still in the hopper. Thanks for all of them. We're going to do this next week but on BLACK FRIDAY at noon EST.

3:01

50-50 ticket allotment for both games.

Dan Lee

3:01

Madison, Wisconsin. Looking ahead to the 2020 season and the Irish HOME game at Lambeau. How many tickets will the visiting Wisconsin Badgers be allocated, and conversely how many will ND fans have available for our distribution? We're thinking this should be a very hot ticket. Will the reverse be true at Soldiers Field in 2021 for the return game when the Badgers are the hosts? Thank you and keep up the great work on these chats.

Eric Hansen

3:01

Alex, I'd love to do the BBQ&A if I could do so without burning the food. ... Great idea. I've had people tell me even if Claypool wasn't an accomplished receiver -- and he is -- that he could have a long career in the NFL as an elite special teams player. .. the only thing hurting him and keeping him in the day 2 range is an exceptionally deep wide receiver draft class.

Alex from Jackson, MO

2:59

Eric, thanks so much for taking your time out for this Q&A. Very much appreciated, as always. Can’t say thanks enough. Maybe sometime you could do a live chat and grill out. Could call it a BBQ&A!! To my question...Where do you see for Claypool being drafted? He looks like he could be really good at the next level. What are your thoughts on him in the NFL?

Eric Hansen

2:59

I'd always want to play the best competition. How do you get better doing the opposite?

Joe from Georgia

2:58

Would it be better if ND receives a bid to a more prestigious bowl and loses, or goes to a lesser bowl and wins?

Eric Hansen

2:58

I answered the first part earlier. As far as the second part, I think Jurkovec is going to be like Kizer in that he'll grow exponentially when he becomes the guy -- if he becomes the guy. I like what I've seen in Brendon Clark. Of the QBs in ND's present and future beyond Book, the one who intrigues me the most is a junior in high school, Tyler Buchner.

Gil from San Juan

2:55

What is your current assessment regarding the possibility of Ian returning. In the event he does not return are you confident any of the other QBs would be competitive?

Eric Hansen

2:55

Hank, feel free to ask questions when it's not raining as well. In no way do I think Jurkovec throwing two passes against Navy was a mechanism for Kelly to protect his own behind, but I used your question, because I think some fans are confused sometimes as to what exactly he is trying to accomplish with some of that rhetoric. My thought is he's trying to take the heat off his team, but maybe there are better ways to go about doing that.

Hank Las Vegas

2:51

Hi Eric it's raining here in the desert so I figured I'd ask a question of you. I listen to Brian Kelly speak and I can't figure out the reasons for the things he says and even more so the things he does. This past week he said Ian Book was just in a little slump speaking of his lack of passing production, he said he knew Book was a deep ball threat , and that National championships and that the big six bowl games are not the way to measure success. In the second half of the Navy game he has an excellent opportunity to give Phil Jurkovec some good reps , and what does Kelly do ? He lets Jurkovec pass twice . So after all that rambling here's the question. I personally think that Kelly is trying to distance himself from the stink of the Michigan game , and not allowing Jurkovec to air the ball out was just another way of protecting himself from more heat should he have done well. Does he say and do these things to take the heat off his team or is it more about protecting his own behind?

Eric Hansen

2:50

I think the running game puzzle has more to do with the running backs (health included), but the line plays a part, and so does Book's up and down play in the passing game and ND being slow to add Book into the running game. ND does not play a team ranked higher than 94th in total defense the next two games. So if a running back emerges in that time, it doesn't necessarily mean great things for 2020. The answers long term will start to emerge next spring and even more so next summer when Chris Tyree arrives on campus.

Paul from Lititz

2:46

Eric - where has the season gone? Just a few games left including a bowl game. What are your thoughts on why the running game has struggled so much including lesser competition. Does the blame lay more with the line, more with a lack of explosive play from running backs or more of an equal share. Will any of the RBs establish themselves over the next few games. I love Book’s play these last two games but am still puzzled by Jurkovic’s lack of time with a more open playbook. Thanks

Eric Hansen

2:45

Those guys have been big pleasant surprises. I'd add Asmar Bilal and Jamir Jones to that list.

Doug from Sunny Florida

2:44

Eric, Drew White and Jonathan Doerer are two players that I didn't foresee prior to the first game as having as good of a season as each has had. Both have been quietly consistent and can be relied upon by the team to do their jobs. Even harder, both have done a very good job of moving out of the shadows of their predecessors. Do you agree and who would you add to this list? Tommy Tremble could be a third.

Eric Hansen

2:44

Skip, the question you pose is a manifesto,. and you simply want me to refute it. I'm not doing that. That's not what this chat is all about. It's too broad for a question that could be answered in a reasonable amount of time. There are elements of the question that have been covered in depth in my articles and in other chats. Maybe one of the message boards would be a better forum for what you're looking for. Good luck to you.

skip from Houston

2:41

I may be doing something wrong since I have posed a question the last two weeks without a response, but let me pose it again.

Eric Hansen

2:39

I'm not sure it makes sense to Lenzy. I know I'm still confused.

Robb, Colorado

2:39

Eric, Lenzy missed the Duke game due to fatigue. How can that really be for a young player like him? I get freshmen hit a wall, but couldn't ND still travel him and get him a few plays, ie. 5-10? Doesn't add up to me.

Eric Hansen

2:39

I like him a lot. What has held him back has been injuries and showing up really undersized for the college football grind initially. To Braden's credit, he's worked hard to put himself in a position to be trusted. I think now is the time to invest in him to see what you have in him and what he can become.

John St Pete Fl

2:37

Eric, thanks for the great job you do covering ND football, I have accepted the fact ND will never see another Rocket Ismail, but Leanzy sure does look like a poor mans version, and not just because of the #25, your thoughts and what has been holding him back?

Eric Hansen

2:37

Tom, Happy Thanksgiving to you. There may be something to your theory, particularly with Book. That doesn't mean he won't eventually get past it. With BK, he's won big games and won some of those on the road. But there have been too many clunkers like Michigan and Miami (Fla,) for the others to stand out. Eventually, if he is going to win a national title, he'll have to win big games that season at home, on the road and two more in the playoff. So that's another reason why getting to the bottom of what went wrong at Michigan matters.

Tom Kennesaw, GA

2:33

Hi Eric, have a Happy Thanksgiving! I agree with your previous statement about us not knowing more about Book until the Wisconsin game next year. I would add Kelly in there too. My question is do you think IB and BK are like the golfer who plays well and with a lot of confidence on Thursday and Friday, but doesn't have the same confidence on Saturday and Sunday and can't make the 3-foot putt when he needs to? I am afraid that is what we are seeing. Thanks and have a great Thanksgiving. Go Irish!!

Eric Hansen

2:31

Thanks, Ugh. No. No. No.

Ken-Pensacola

2:31

Eric - Living in FSU land can be challenging especially with the recent firing of their head coach. But, now the RUMORS are that BK is a potential candidate for FSU's head coaching job. Are there any truth to those rumors and in your opinion, if BK was offered the job, would he take it? Thanks - As Always GREAT CHATS. GO IRISH!!!!!!

Eric Hansen

2:28

Ian Book can change a play at the line of scrimmage. He also sometimes has an option based on what he sees, an either/or, if you will. That was the case on his TD run to win the Va Tech game. A different defensive look would have dictated the other option. Now keep in mind, if he changes a good play into a bad one, the will be coaches "interfering" with him on the sidelines later.

Jim,Cumberland,Md

2:26

Hi Eric Great Job ,Is there any time a QB can call a series of Play’s own His own with out the Coach intererfering.

Eric Hansen

2:26

I think it's a great idea, and part of the reason why I think so is that it's relevant -- to how people perceive the program, to this season, to 2020 and beyond. So yeah, sign me up for that.

RC from Albany

2:25

Hi Eric - would you ever consider writing a more in-depth story of the MI game? I am still somewhat shocked that the game unfolded the way it did. I understand that there were multiple ‘causes’ but I doubt that they all had the same influence on the team’s performance and the game’s outcome. I would think this topic would be better covered in the off-season when the coaches, players, staff would be more willing to reflect (on of off the record) on what happened at MI - after the 2019 season is complete. What are your thoughts? Thanks

Eric Hansen

2:24

Vince, I was fooling around. However, when we used to have the Thursday press conferences with BK, I got a pretty good ready as to Kelly's confidence level going into that particular game. Now that in itself doesn't help you predict wins and losses, but I felt I had much better insight into both him as a coach, his pregame mood, how practice had been going that week, the health of the team, etc. etc. etc. I miss those Thursday press conferences.

Vince from Nashville

2:21

Eric, I was listening to you, Darrin and Shawn on Gameday Sportsbeat Saturday. You guys got into a discussion about being able to predict the outcome of the game by the look on Coach Kelly's face on the pre-game walk. You guys said against Virginia Tech he looked stressed and it was a close game. Last week before Navy he looked happy with a big smile on his face and ND blew out the Midshipmen. Are you being serious in reading him helps predict the outcome of the game or just fooling around? If this is a thing then Vinny from Las Vegas might start calling you. Go Irish!

Eric Hansen

2:21

Jeff, I agree with your point about designed QB runs and I made that point several times before it came to pass on our SportsBeat radio show. Why didn't ND do that earlier? A couple of theories ... Chip fell too much in love with the RPO concept and didn't feel it was necessary, and perhaps earlier in the season there wasn't the confidence that Phil Jurkovec was as ready to take the reins of the offense in case of injury to Book as he is now. As far as Mike Sanford, he never called plays at ND. It was Mike Denbrock during that time ... and statistically he is the best of the Kelly Era relative to the strength of opposing defenses. I like Chip. I don't think we've seen the best of him yet.

Jeff B from Oklahoma City

2:10

Eric, I think one of the reasons for the improvement in the offense the last couple of weeks has been getting Book more involved as a threat in the designed running game. Seems to open every thing else up. My question is why wasn't this approach taken more earlier in the season? He was not really used at all in this capacity at Georgia where the run game struggled and they could have used his legs more nor at Michigan. Which gets me to a comment someone else made earlier and you disagreed with about Chip Long. Why did he not see this then and give it a shot? Mike Sanford was a much better play caller to me although he did have the best overall offensive talent Kelly has had in 2015. I still do not get all the love for him.

Eric Hansen

2:09

You really need to re-evaluate where you're getting your sports news.

Steve Findlay Ohio

2:09

Any word on Bob Stoops/finebaum said he is basically the coach in waiting

Eric Hansen

2:08

Lots of Californians, yes, A whopping 96 percent of our traffic on NDinsider.com comes from outside our traditional circulation area.

George from El Segundo

2:08

Hi Eric: just a comment today, no questions. Have you noticed the tremendous following the chat has in California? A strong ND underground in the land of Troy! Best wishes for Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Eric Hansen

2:07

Nigel, a big part of ND's QB future is in your own backyard, but first ... Book has a year of college eligibility after this season. Phil Jurkovec has three years left after 2019. Brendon Clark, is redshirting and will have four. Drew Pyne joins the roster in 2020. Then comes San Diego product (The Bishops School) Tyler Buchner, who is having one of the best high school seasons of any quarterback anywhere.

Nigel from San Diego

1:57

How is the future looking for the Irish especially in the QB position. I am a huge book fan and thought he played very well this season outside of the Michigan game.

Eric Hansen

1:57

Jim. I'm not sure what you're asking me. Not every play results in a first down or a touchdown. And sometimes plays that don't work set up plays later in the game that do. So if you're asking me why Chip Long doesn't run the plays you want, I don't have an answer for you.

Connecting…

Message History

On Off

Your current subscriptions

None

E-mail Address	Chat Owner	Status	Remove

Enter your email address to be notified when Eric Hansen hosts a chat